Glowforge release

[Gary Hair]

I hate to butt in on this conversation but the three founders of Epilog Laser Corp. still drive to work at the factory every day -- with the exception of holidays & vacations, of course -- 29 years after they first opened the doors.

The people that started businesses 29 years ago were very different than the typical startup today. Then, they wanted to create a business that produced a high quality product that they could be proud of, today they don't care what they produce as long as they can become million(billion)aires by any means possible.

[Bert Kemp]

Exactly right, that's why there's so much cheap Chinese junk on the market today, nobody wants to make a quality product in the USA and market it themselves. Just make a cheap product sell it quick to the Chinese and make your buck$ and run.

The people that started businesses 29 years ago were very different than the typical startup today. Then, they wanted to create a business that produced a high quality product that they could be proud of, today they don't care what they produce as long as they can become million(billion)aires by any means possible.

[Malcolm McLeod]

The people that started businesses 29 years ago were very different than the typical startup today. Then, they wanted to create a business that produced a high quality product that they could be proud of, today they don't care what they produce as long as they can become million(billion)aires by any means possible.

Exactly right, that's why there's so much cheap Chinese junk on the market today, nobody wants to make a quality product in the USA and market it themselves. Just make a cheap product sell it quick to the Chinese and make your buck$ and run.

I'd like to invoke the chicken or the egg debate, but in the context of the above price vs. quality I believe the answer has been provided by the American consumer. Loudly.

Walmart was founded ~55 yrs ago; Home Depot was founded ~39yrs ago. Take a look at their business models and convince yourself that consumers want quality over price. I suspect the products we buy have little, if anything, to do with who makes it or where. And quality?...That one on the bottom shelf is 2% cheaper. What a DEAL!!

Yes, some people will choose based on who, where, and how good. But rarely in enough numbers for a company to survive, let alone make the owner rich.

Kind of like GlowForge - - the market will decide if they succeed, not this thread.

[Bill George]

Walmart and Home Depot is not about cheap goods, its about doing business on a smaller markup and less profit per item. The local lumber yards and mom and pop businesses did not fail because of cheap goods offered at either of those big box stores, in fact a lot of the same stuff they also sold. But instead of a 10 or 20 percent markup Walmart and HD had, they wanted or thought they needed a 50 to 100% markup. Customers gave up service for a lower priced same item off the shelf. The local businesses that survived learned to adapt, the rest went out of business.

GlowForge has nothing for the professionals on here, its aimed at the home DIY and home crafter. Think Hulu hoop but it will burn your house down instead.

[John Lifer]

Think Hulu hoop but it will burn your house down instead.

Just​ couldn't resist. https//m.youtube.com/watch?v=RD7JYZ37P5g

[John Stevenson]

GF had revenue of about $45 million at one point last year. Some quick and dirty math could mean it's plausible that about 10,000 -13,000 machines were sold.

10,000 - 13,000 ??

So where are they ? you can't hide that many machines with beta testers.

[Lee DeRaud]

10,000 - 13,000 ??

So where are they ? you can't hide that many machines with beta testers.

"Sold", not "shipped".

[David Somers]

Why do I have visions of a giant warehouse somewhere in the SODO area of Seattle, ala the final scenes in Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom, filled with endless boxes of GlowForges! <grin>

[Bert Kemp]

Yes sold NOT shipped
Not shipped because there not made
Not made because theres still to many problems with them to make them and ship them.

"Sold", not "shipped".

[Matt McCoy]

GF Basic machines are currently shipping, if anyone is interested. PRO and filter delays, though.

Here's the latest:

Now: Glowforge Basic deliveries underway.
June 30: Glowforge Pro shipments start.
September 30: Air Filter shipments start.
October 31: All Basic and Pro orders placed by 10/26/2015 shipped.
November 30: All Basic and Pro orders shipped.
December 29: All Air Filters shipped.

Additional info:

https://community.glowforge.com/t/glowforge-shipments-underway-schedule-update-underway-and-more-june-17/8393

Flex video:

[Matt McCoy]

Bob, from ILTMS:

[Gary Hair]

If this is really true then I hope there is a "Glowforge" sub-forum here for all of the new owners seeking help, no use having them plug up this forum with what I predict to be a storm of questions.

[Bill George]

If this is really true then I hope there is a "Glowforge" sub-forum here for all of the new owners seeking help, no use having them plug up this forum with what I predict to be a storm of questions.

Why would there be questions? But I think Keith nixed the sub-Forum a long time ago.

And they said the GlowForge would never ship.... boy looks like a lot of people are wrong.

[Gary Hair]

Why would there be questions?

questions like:
Can you recommend a good product liability attorney?
Can you recommend a good carpet cleaner that removes smoke smell and soot?
Can you recommend a good fire extinguisher?

[quote] But I think Keith nixed the sub-Forum a long time ago. [\quote]
Too bad, I have a feeling the million and one Chinese laser questions will be lost in the billion and one Glowforge questions

And they said the GlowForge would never ship.... boy looks like a lot of people are wrong.

I'm betting on a few shipping and then a bunch more delays. Seems to be their M.O.

[Scott Shepherd]

Oh Gary, so cynical Did you watch the second video of the guy that makes things? You can clearly see the power of the machine. It knocked out a 3" x2" engraving in wood in an earth shattering 9 minutes! I'm not even sure if I could make any machine we own take that long if we tried. Who knew that it would make Chinese lasers look fast at rastering?

I am glad the people are finally getting what they paid for. I felt they would.